Method of and apparatus for applying wall finishes



Nov. 22, 1932. E. J. MILLER 1,388,234

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WALL FINISHES Filed Nov. 9, 1929 0 M Quid/Q0 Wf 1 v I v 77 f -\;;4 LJfWi JJ/MM/EF wigs/WWW Patented Nov. 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oar-ice i EDWARD J. MILLER, 01' IILWAUm WISCONSIN IETEOD 01' AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING WALL I I1 I 1 I Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,025.

This invention relates to certain new and Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view useful improvements in wall finishes and re-' taken through Figure 3 on the plane of the fers more particularly to a method of apply: line 4-4 and illustrating the manner'of aping a plastic material to resemble various plying the plastic materialtometal lathe;

5 types of stone and other similar surfaces. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken It is an object of this invention to provide through Fi ure 4 on the plane of the line a conveniently handled tool with which plas- 5-5 with t e tool in its retracted sition tic material may be pressed onto a supportpreparatory to being withdrawn; an ing surface or wall, with its outer surface re- F gure 6 1s a view similar to Fi re 2 illussembling stone or the like, quickly and eftratmg the finishing material app ied ontoan fi iently, v undercoat of plaster or the like.

Another object of this invention resides in Referring now more particularly to the acthe provision of a tool of the character decompanymg drawing, the numeral 5 represcribed with which redetermined quantities scnts a wall of conventional construction havor batches of plastic material may be indimg metal or other suitable lath 6 onto which vidually forced onto a suitable backin or the exterior surface? of the wall is adapted sup orting surface and whereby a uni orm to be applied The surface 7 is formed of thiciiness of the finishing surface is insured. plast c material applied by means of a tool 7 And a further object of this invention re- 8 whlch gives its outer surface a close resemsides in the provision of means for preventblance to stone. 7

ing the adhesion of the plastic material to the Afinish of this type has heretofore been tool during the removal of the tool and which impossible, but 1s re ad1ly obtained by the use remains on the formed material to prevent receptable or casing 9 open atits front and eva oration and permit more thorough dehaving its rear wall 10 provided with an 25 hycii'ation. open ng 11. The casing 9 is preferably With the above and other objects in view formed of sheet metal and slidably receives which will appear as the description proa plunger 12 whose sides snugly engage the ceeds, my invention resides in the novel con- Inner walls of the casing and whose outer struct-ion,.combination and arrangement of surface is shaped to resemble roughly cut 30 parts substantially as hereinafter described stone. The peripheral edges of the outer and more particularly defined by the appendsurface are proy'zcted to form beads 13 which ed claims, it being understood that such serve to shape the plastic material to repre-, changes in the precise embodiment of the sent the mortar, between the .stones in the hereindisclosed invention may be made as completed wall. come within the scope of the claims. A U sha ed handle frame 14 issecuredto In the accompanying drawing, I have ilthe back 0 the plunger by screws 15 with its lustrated one com lete example of the physiside arms extending throu h the opening 11 cal embodiment o? my invent-ion constructed of the casing, the width 0 the frame being according to the best mode I have so far de slightly less than the length of the opening vised for the practical application of th so that the frame sides are directly adjacent principles thereof, and in which: the ends of the opening. The outermost ends Figure l is an elevational view of a porof the frame sides mount a handle 16v by tion of a wall formed in accordance with my means of a bolt 17 fixed in the handle and invention; extended through aligned apertures in the Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken frame sides. Both ends of the bolt are aper- 9 through Figure 1 on the plane of the line tured, as at 19, to slidably receive stop pins 20 which are adjustably secured against Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tool movement with respect to the bolt and the sired of the bolt.

for applying the material to obtain the dehandle by nuts 18 threaded on the outer end smo As best illustrated in Figure 4, the inner ends of the pins 20 are adapted to engage the outer surface of the wall 10 to limit inward movement of the plunger. Outward movement of the plunger is adj ustably limited by a pair of nuts 23 threaded on studs 21 slidable in apertures 22 formed in the wall 10 and secured to the plunger to be movable therewith.

In use, the plunger is retracted to its outerengage the casing wall 10 and consequently limit further inward movement of the plunger. This movement of the plunger forces the plastic material onto the metal lath and at the same time places the material in the ,desired state of compression.

As the casing, which is in fact a mold, is individually filled, a pleasing color combination is obtainable by using different colors of plastic material.

The waxed paper or other suitable flexible material which covers the face of the plunger to prevent the adhesion of the material to the plunger is left orithe surface of the pressed material to cover the completed wall. This causes the material to cure from the inside and permits a more thorough dehydration of the same, thus producing a harder and more durable surface. The coating of waxed paper also serves vto hold the plastic material against sagging from its own weight.

To remove the tool, the handle 16 and consequently the stop pins 20 are turned out of alignment with the handle frame sides, as illustrated in Figure 5, to enable the casing to be withdrawn without affecting the position of the plunger. Maintaining the plunger in its position a ainst the plastic material during the withdrawal of the casing, preeludes the possibility of disturbing its formed condition and greatly facilitates the removal of the tool. lVith the casing thus withdrawn,

the plunger may be readily removed from the formed material by slightly tilting the same either upwardly or downwardly and to prevent suction from retarding such movement of the plunger, a plurality of air bleeds 26 are formed therein, passage of plastic material through the air bleeds being prevented by the coverlng of wax paper.

It is noted that the studs 21 are provided.

with heads 27 which engage the wall 10 and limit the outward movement of the casin and thus prevent its movement beyond the p unger. It is also apparent that the stop pins 20 by limiting the inward movement of the plunger insure a uniform density and thicknesls1 of the finishing material over the entire wa If desired, the finishing material may be applied, as illustrated in Figure 6, onto an undercoat 28 of suitable material such as plaster or the like. Inasmuch as the material from which the finishing coat is formed is rich in cement it is comparatively expensive and, therefore, this method of application,- by permitting a relatively thinner layer of finishing material, considerably rexiuces the cost.

Where an undercoat is used, the stop pins 20 and the nuts 23, which limit inward and outward movement, respectively, of the plunger, are adjusted so that the quantity of material received in the casing and the movement of the plunger is comparatively less than where the finishing material is applied directly to the metal lat From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I rovide a novel wall finish and a tool for app lying the same which enables plastic material to be applied in a manner so as to closely resemble cut stone and other similar surfaces.

"What I claim as m invention is:

1. The hereindescri ed method of a plying a surface finish which consists, in ing a receptacle with plastic material, and in forcing all of the material from the receptacle onto the surface to form a section of covermg conforming in size and shape to the receptacle.

2. The hereindescribed method of a plying plastic material to a wall to resemble stone and the like which consists in pressing a. quantity of lastic material from a receptacle onto a wall y means of a member whose surface is formed to represent the finish desired.

3. The hereindescribed method of applying plastic material to a wall to resemble stone and the like which consists in, pressing a quantity of the plastic material onto a suitable backing by means of a member whose surface is formed to resemble the finish desired, and in covering the surface of said member with flexible material to prevent adhesion of the plastic material to the member.

4. The hereindescribed method of applying plastic material to form a wall finish which consists, in covering a tool whose surface is formed to resemble the finish desired with relatively thin flexible material, in placing a quantity of plastic material on the flexible material, in pressing the plastic material onto the wall, and leaving the flexible material on the pressed surface.

5. The hereindescribed method of applying a surface finish to represent stone or the like, which consists in pressing lndivldual quantities of plastic material onto the surface in juxtaposition to entirely cover the surface from a receptacle adapted to hold said quantities of plastic material.

6. The hereindescribed method of applying a surface finish to represent stone or the like, which consists in pressing individual quantities of plastic material onto the surface in j uxtaposition to entirely cover the surface by forcing a member having a surface formed to represent the finish desired and covered wlth the plastic material, against the surface with a single motion substantially perpendicular to the surface.

7. The hereindescribed method of applying a surface finish to represent stone or the like, which consists in pressing indlvidual quantities of plastic material onto the surface in juxtaposition to entirely cover the surface by means of a member whose surface is formed to represent the finish desired and in simultaneously applying a coveringto the exterior of the individual quantities of plastic material as they are pressed into position to prevent too rapid dehydration thereof.

8. The hereindescribed method of applying a surface finish which consists in filling a receptacle with plastic material, in forcing the contents of the receptacle onto the surface to cover a portion thereof, holding the receptacle stationary against the surface while material is forced therefrom so that the entire contents of the receptacle are applied at one place to cover an area substantially coextensive with the receptacle, in refilling the receptacle with plastic material and in forcing the contents of the receptacle onto the surface to cover an area immediately adjacent Ehe previously covered portion of said surace.

9. The hereindescribed method of applying a surface finish which consists in filling an open sided receptacle with plastic material, placing the receptacle open side against the surface, pressing the plastic material against the surface by means of a member whose surface is formed to resemble the finish desired while maintaining the receptacle against the surface, in withdrawing the receptacle from the pressed material while-holding the member against the same, and in removing the face to regulate the degree of compression to whichthe material is subjected and its thickness on the surface, and means movably mounting the handle whereby the limiting means is readily movable out of operative position to enable the casing to be withdrawn from the pressed material while the plunger is retained thereagainst.

12. A tool for applying plastic material to a wall comprising a casing having an open front and adapted to hold a quantity of plastic material, a plunger movable within the casing, a handle for moving the plunger outwardly of the casing to press the plastic material therein ontothe wall, means carried b the plunger projecting back of the receptacle to freely rotatabl mount the handle, and means connected with the handle and engageable with the receptacle closed rear wall to limit the outward movement of the plunger by the handle and regulate the degree of compression to which the plastic material is subjected and its thickness on the wall, said limiting means being movable with the handle to enable the same to be readily moved out of operative position to permit the casing to be withdrawn from the pressed material on the wall while the plunger is retained thereagainst.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDWARD J. MILLER.

through the closed- 

